Rupture of the contacts forming a frictional interface governs frictional failure in both natural and engineered systems. Often such failure is governed by brittle fracture, where a small cohesive length $\xi$ regularizes the singular rupture tip. We experimentally study rupture nucleation under conditions where $\xi$ is large, exceeding the interface width. Within $\xi$, initially 2D expanding fronts transition into slow 1D rupture fronts while still establishing $\xi$. Rapid rupture only ensues after $\xi$ is established, at the Griffith length. This cohesive-scale-driven nucleation should be generic when $\xi$ dominates geometrical scales, with ramifications for material failure, friction, and fault-zone dynamics.

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• Earthquakes
• Fracture
• Friction
• Nucleation on surfaces